Glenn Cardier
Glenn Ronald Cardier (born November 17, 1948) is an Australian singer songwriter, composer, producer, arranger and guitarist. He is known best for his folk-rock songs with well-crafted lyrics often displaying touches of dark humor. There have been two phases to his musical career - the folk artist of the 1970’s and the re-invented recording and performing artist from 2000. During Cardier’s lengthy time away from the public eye, he worked as a behavior support teacher for the Department of Education in schools on the Central Coast of New South Wales. Glenn Cardier usually presents his songs in a vocal delivery reminiscent of Bob Dylan, Randy Newman or Leonard Cohen however his compositions have been recorded by pop icon Olivia Newton John (New Born Babe), Fairport Convention’s Dave Pegg (Dance Numbers) and rock’n’roll revivalists Ol’ 55 (The Iridescent Pink Sock Blues).
He has performed at Australia’s first two Sunbury festivals, Bluesfest and all other major music festivals and venues down under, the Sydney Opera House, Ronnie Scott’s Club and the Marquee Club in London and has toured worldwide appearing with such diverse artists as Frank Zappa, Spike Milligan, Judy Collins, Fairport Convention, Cheech and Chong, Harry Chapin, Bob Geldof, Manfred Mann’s Earth Band, Ray Davies, Labi Siffre, Dave Van Ronk and John Hammond.
Birth name. Glenn Ronald Cardier Born. November 17th 1948 Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Genres. Folk, Roots, Rock, Blues, Rockabilly, Americana. Occupations. Singer-songwriter, producer, arranger, guitarist, art teacher Instruments. Vocals, guitar, keyboards, percussion Labels. Festival, Interfusion, Fantastique (independent). Associated acts. The Sideshow, Christian Marsh Website. glenncardier.com
Early Life Cardier is the son of Joyce (née Fisher) and Ellis Albert Cardier. He spent his early years in Brisbane, Queensland attending Hendra Primary and High schools and Kelvin Grove Teachers College. He taught secondary school art for two years at Gayndah and Clontarf high schools. Career Glenn Cardier relocated to Sydney, New South Wales after winning a local TV talent show and being offered a recording and publishing contract with Festival Records. During his career Cardier has had little chart success nor major commercial success but since the early 70’s has attracted critical acclaim for his self-produced CDs recorded at his home studio and released independently. Rock historian Glenn A Baker has stated: ‘I don’t say this lightly but Cardier could well be one the most distinct voices in this country – certainly one of our finest songwriters. That oft-cited cross between John Prine and John Lee Hooker still sums him up rather well. He is blues and rock and country and folk and singer-songwriter and any other tag that may be applied to him. But most of all he is Glenn Cardier – an absolute original. A national treasure.’ Trevor Leedon wrote in Rhythms Magazine in 2012: ‘There's no-one else on the Australian music scene quite like Glenn Cardier; from the finely chiselled storylines, and the razor sharp observations to the off- kilter delivery of his cryptic vignettes, he is a genuine one-off, a maverick, and you wouldn't want it any other way.'
Albums Days Of Wilderness (1972 Festival Records) Only When I Laugh (1973 Festival Records) Glenn Cardier (1976 Interfusion UK) An Everyday Maniac (1986 The Festival File series) Rattle The Cage (2002 Fantastique Studio) House Of Mirrors (2004 Fantastique Studio) Exiles From Eden (2008 Fantastique Studio) Live At Lizottes (2009 Glenn Cardier and the Sideshow live) Stranger Than Fiction (2012 Alberts Studio, Fantastique Studio) Old Haunts -The Lost Songs 1972-1979 (2013) Cool Under Fire (2016 Fantastique Studio) Wild At Heart (2019 Fantastique Studio) Singles ‘Every Wounded Bird’/ ‘The Juggler’ (1973) ‘Same Old Story’/ ‘Christopher Columbus Rag’ (1977) ‘Expectations’/ ‘I Saved Annette From Drowning’ (1980) Track Releases ‘Australia’ (1973 - Sunbury 1973 Triple Album) ‘Establishment Blues’ (1978, pseudonym Sidney Hill, B side to ‘Come On Aussie, Come On’) ‘Socka’ (1981 - Theme for the FIFA World Youth Soccer Championships) ‘Reindeers On The Rooftop’ (1986 - Christmas Crackers LP) Online Releases ‘Invisible Ink’ (Live Woodford Folk Festival 2018) - w/ Christian Marsh, harmonica) ‘Water Finds Its Own Level’ (w/ The Sideshow live at the Harmonie German Club 2018) ‘She Flew Away’ (Live at the Harmonie German Club 2018) The Bel-Aires (Live at the Bellevue Hotel 1982) ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ - 2020 Band Line Ups The Profiles - 1960 (w/ Michael Quinlan, Russell Tillyard, Ken Baillie) The New Generation - 1961 (w/ Michael Quinlan, Russell Tillyard, Ken Baillie) The Revolution - 1967 (w/ Richard Wilson, Ross Hutchings) The Cardinals - 1981 (w/ Brad Alick, Paul Read, Jeremy Cook) The Bel-Aires - 1982 (w/ Brad Alick, Paul Read, Vinnie Crea) 1983 (w/ Brad Alick, Eddie Parise, Vinnie Crea)
Glenn Cardier and the Sideshow - 2009 (w/ Stuie French, Phil Grove, Davo Fester, Peter Clark) 2010 - (w/ Rex Goh, Phil Grove, Davo Fester, Nick Hoorweg) 2012 - (w/ Rex Goh, Phil Grove, Davo Fester, Mick Malouf) 2014 - (w/ Jeremy Edwards, Phil Grove, Davo Fester, Mick Malouf) 2018 - 2020 (w/ Phil Grove, Davo Fester, Mick Malouf)
Personal Life Cardier was married to Ruth Sanderson (1971-1995) and they have one daughter Beth Cardier. He has been married to Caroline Webb since 2003 and his stepson is Martin Sharp. His mother Joyce Else resides in Sunshine, NSW and sister Marilyn lives in Sydney NSW. Awards In 1972, Cardier won Best New Talent at the Australian Record Awards. He was a first place winner in the International Song Competition 2016. In 2017, rock journalist Anthony O’Grady extensively documented his career for the National Sound Archives of Australia.